Ahmadiyya Muslims - Outline

I am pleased to share the information about Ahmadiyya Muslims, written by Dr. Din Shahed, a leader of the community based in Canada.

Finding the truth is one's own responsibility, judging any one based on fiction or hearsay is not correct, as it produced ill-will. In the previous posting a clarification was made that we have the right to judge one's deviant social behavior as to theft, fornication, cheating etc, where as one's faith, an inner matter will be judged by God only and on the Day of Judgment.

Full article about the issue is at:
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2008/04/ahmadiyya-muslims-what-next.html

Mike Ghouse
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Ahmadiyya Muslims - An outline
By Dr. Din Mohammad Shahed

Reality of International Ahmadiyy Movement in Islam
Ahmadi Muslims are Muslims and they whole-heartedly believe in Khatam-un-Nabiyyeen

For the information of our Muslim brothers and sisters in response to Maulvi's misleading articles

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam,

Assalamo Alaikum.

May Allah guide you to the right path of Islam. You are totally misguided about Ahmadiyya movement in Islam. You are under influence of the false allegations spread by the ignorant and prejudiced "mullahs" about whom the Holy Prophet Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allah be on Him] prophesied that they would be the worst creatures under the sky and on the earth!

2. If Jesus Christ, the Prophet is alive and he is to come again after the prophet [peace be on Him] then Jesus, the prophet will be the LAST PROPHET! Having such absurd belief you will be "munkir-e-khatm-e-nabuwwat"! And whoso is "munkir-e-khatm-e-nabuwwat" is "not-Muslim" according to the amended constitution of Pakistan, dated 7Th September, 1974!!

3. Think about if Jesus Christ, the prophet comes again will he be a student of”mullahs" and will he learn the Holy Qur’aan from a "mullah”? Or the Holy Qur’aan will be revealed to Him again after the Holy Prophet [peace be on Him]?

4.It is wonder that when Jesus Christ came himself 2000 years before Jews did not accept his prophethood and when He will come again {according to your belief} then you people will not accept his prophethood !!


5. Moulvi Bilal, may Allah guide you to the right path of real peaceful Islam. The Holy Promised Messiah and Mahdi [peace be on Him] the founder of Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, is the most humble servant of the Holy Prophet Muhammad [peace be on Him]. And the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam is the revival, renaissance and predominance of Islam movement and to unite all the good natured people from all over the world under the banner of the most benign, merciful prophet Muhammad [peace be on Him].
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OUR FAITH AND OUR BELIEFS

- 1 -
"The five pillars of Islam constitute our Creed. The Revelation of God viz., the Qur’aan which we are commanded to hold firmly on, that indeed we hold firmly on. God be pleased with Umar: Like him we have the words 'sufficient unto us is the Book of God' constantly on our lips. In case of conflict and disagreement between the Hadiths and the Qur’aan we follow Hazrat Ayesha (God be pleased with her) and choose the Qur’aan, especially in the historical texts treated by all schools as above abrogation. And we believe that there is no deity, no one worthy of worship, but only Almighty Allah that our Master Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (peace and blessings of God be upon him), is His Rasul and Khatamal-Anbiya. And we believe that angels exist, that the resurrection of bodies after death is true, and that the Day of Reckoning is also true, that Djanna and Gehenna are also true. We believe that every thing taught about these matters by the Holy Qur’aan and the Holy Prophet is true. We believe that he who seeks to subtract an iota from this or to add an iota to this - the Sharia of Islam and also he who makes light of the statutes and practices of Islam is devoid of belief, a denier of Islam. We counsel our Jamaat to put true and sincere faith in the Holy Kalima, La Illaha Ill-Allah, Muhammad al-Rasul-Allah, to live and die by it, also to believe in all prophets and in all books, the truth of which is sanctioned by the Qur’aan; to observe in letter and in spirit the Fasts, Prayers, Zakat and Pilgrimage and all prescriptions and prohibitions laid down by Almighty Allah and His Prophet. We counsel them in short that their belief should include all beliefs and all rules of conduct agreed upon unanimously by early Muslims, that is, all matters accepted as part of Islam by the consensus of Ahl-i-Sunnah. There is no option. And we hold heaven and earth as witness that this is our creed and this is our faith."
(Ayyamal Sulh pg. 86-87)

- 2 -
"We are Musalmans. We believe in the One God without a partner and in the Kalima, La Illaha Ill-Allah. We believe in the Book of God, the Qur’aan, in His Messenger Muhammad (peace on him and God's blessings) the Khatam Al-Anbiya. We believe in angels, the resurrection, hell and paradise. We observe the prescribed prayers and the fast. We turn to the Qibla for prayers and forbid ourselves what is forbidden by God and His Prophet and permit ourselves what is permitted. We add not a thing to the Sharia, nor subtract any thing from it. The Sharia is above change. Whatever has come down to us from the Holy Prophet (on whom peace and God's blessings), all that we accept, whether we understand or not and whether we can unravel its secrets and real meaning or not. We are believers with the Grace of God, and strict monotheist Muslims." (Nur al-Haq I, pg. 5)
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by the grace of Allah we are Muslims in the eyes of Allah and according to the sayings of the holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on him].we Ahmadi Muslims damn care of fatwa’s of takfeer of maulvies or any government !!
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1. Kafir Maulvi Bilal is a name sake Muslim by the fatwa’s of maulvies!!
2. But we Ahmadi Muslims damn care of such decrees and fatwas of maulvies!
3. by the grace of Allah we are Muslims in the eyes of Allah according to the verses of the holy Qur’aan and the sayings of the holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on him]

4.according to the fatwas of 200 "mukaffir" maulvies, Hazrat imam Hussein [may Allah be pleased with him] was declared out of Islam and worth to be killed!!

5. All the saints of Islam in the last 14 centuries have been called "kefirs" and "out of the pale of Islam”!!

6. The quid-e-azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, allama Iqbal, zulfiqar Ali Bhutto were also called "kafirs" by these mukaffir maulvies!!

7.all the sects of islam, deobandies,brailvies,ahl-e-hadis,ahl-e-quran, ,shias, sunnies have been declared and called "kafirs" and "non-Muslims" by the "mukaffir" maulvies against each others !!

8.so if these already themselves called "kafirs", lavell fatwas of "kufre" against Ahmadi Muslims, they are automatically null and void !!

9. If mukaffir “Maulvi Bilal" follows the same "fatwah-e-takfeer" of the Mecca "rabetah-e-aalmi-islami", that is only a copy of the early Meccans who stood against the holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on him]and they persecuted the holy prophet and the early Muslims and forced them to migrate to Madinah tayyebah !!

10.and those maulvies were also the "Meccans" and "najdies" who stood against the holy saint Hazrat Muhammad bin Abdul wahhab, the mujaddid of the king faisal !! Allah destroyed all "mukaffir" ulemas and now the Saudis are followers of Hazrat imam Muhammad bin Abdul wahhab!! So they should avoid "takfeer decrees" against the ahmadiyya Muslim jama'at international !!

11."rabetah alami-islami" which issued "fatwa-e-takfeer" against ahmadi Muslims is called the stooge organization of the Jews and the Christians according to the majority Muslims of brailvies in Pakistan!!

12.had the fatwah [religious decree] of "rabetah aalmi islami" under the instructions of king faisal of Saudi Arabia and zulfiqar ali bhutto,the then the prime minister of Pakistan, been good in the eyes of Allah, the king faisal would not have been killed by his nephew musaed on the "eid milad-un-nabi day " and Mr. Bhutto would not have been hanged by general zia-ul-haq!! And if general zia-ul-haq had been good in his nefarious actions against ahmadi Muslims, he would not have been killed in the aircraft along with his 15 elite members !! These three tragic incidents are actually the great historic miracles and signs of god as pharaoh was drowned in the sea !! Fa-taberoo ya ool-el-absar !!

13.satan and iblis have been trying their level best against all the prophets since the creation of Adam. And in the time of second Adam, when Allah sent the holy prophet Muhammad’s humblest servant, the holy promised messiah and mahdi and ordained him for "kasr-e-saleeb",the "breaking of the cross" and for the predominance of Islam and for the establishment of the new real world order of Islam, sorry to say, that at the instance of the Jews and Christians, Satan again stood against the ahmadi Muslims,” the jamaat-al-muslemeena wa imamamhum" under the cover of "mukaffir maulvies" and the meccan "rabetah-e-aalami-islami" !! But their satanic mechanicions are bound to fail ultimately according to the prophecy revealed to the holy promised messiah [peace be on him] in the words,” freemasons hargiz tujh par musallat naheen keay jaingay " !! It means that " freemasons "will not overpower on you !! Islam will prevail over all religions through the holy promised messiah [peace be on him]


14.in the last, i may remind "kafir and mukaffir" maulvi bilal and his deobandi group members that there is saying of the holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on him] that whoso calls a Muslim "kafir" he himself becomes a kafir !! As maulvi bilal repeatedly called ahmadi Muslims kafir, so maulve bilal himself is a dead kafir and non-Muslim!! A humble servant of ahmadiyyat, the true Islam

dmshahed@yahoo.com
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translation of "khatam-un-nabiyyeem"
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Translation of 'Khatam an Nabiyyen' [33:41], is published by the Saudi Govt (King Fahd Holy Quran Printing Complex) and revised and edited by 'The Presidency of Islamic Researches, IFTA, Call and Guidance' the term 'Khatam an Nabiyyen' is translated as 'the Seal of the Prophets' and not the 'last prophet'. It is only in footnotes that 'the Seal' is interpreted as 'no prophet after Prophet Muhammad(sas). Thus "the last of the prophets" translation is not universally recognized as correct.
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THE HOLY PROPHET IS KHATAM-UN-NABBIYYEEN
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WE AHMADI MUSLIMS WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE IN THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD [PEACE BE ON HIM] IS KHATAM-UN-NABIYYIN,THE SEAL OF ALL THE PROPHETS.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam (peace be upon him) says: "I swear by the glory of God and His Majesty that I am of the faithful, a Muslim and I believe in Allah, the High, in His Books, and in His Messengers and in His Angels and in Life after death. And I believe that Prophet Muhammad the Elect of God (peace of Allah be on him and His blessings) is the most eminent of the prophets and the Seal of Apostles." (Hamamatul Bushra, page 6) He has further stated: I call Allah, the Glorious, to witness that I am not a disbeliever. My doctrine is that there is no one worthy of worship save Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah . I believe concerning him that he was the Messenger of Allah and the Khataman Nabiyyeen. I affirm the truth of this statement with as many oaths as are the Holy names of Allah and as are the letters of the Holy Quran and as is the number of the excellencies of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. No belief of mine is contrary to the commands of Allah and His Messenger. He who imagines anything contrary to this labors under a mis-conception. (Karamatus Sadiqeen, p 25]
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THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD [PEACE BE ON HIM] IS "KHATAM-UN-NABIYYEEN"
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we ahmadi Muslims according to the Islamic terminology of prophethood, whole-heartedly believe that holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on him] is "kahatam-un-nabiyyeen", the seal of the prophets, the last of the prophets. No other "prophet" can come after the holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on him]. That is why we ahmadi Muslims believe in the death of Jesus Christ [peace be on him]. We ahmadi Muslims believe that Jesus Christ, the prophet died like all prophets [according to 30 verses of the holy Quran, sayings of the holy prophet and the latest discoveries and historical facts. his tomb is found in srinagar, kashmir in India. see this website :- [visit www.tombofjesus.com]

so Jesus Christ, the prophet being dead like all other prophets can not come after the holy prophet [peace be on him] !! But sorry to say that maulvi bilal and some Muslims believe in the life of Jesus Christ the prophet in heaven bodily since 2000 years and he will come after the holy prophet[peace be on him]. Having this belief Jesus Christ will be the last prophet !! Whoso believes in the second coming of Jesus Christ, the prophet after the holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on him] he himself is 'munkir-e-khatm-e-nabuwwat. and whoso is munkir-e-khatm-e-nabuwwat, he is anon-Muslim and kafir according to the amended constitution of Pakistan dated 7th september,1974 !!

CLAIM OF THE HOLY PROMISED MESSIAH

according to the initiation form [bai't form]we ahmadi Muslims declare and believe in the words,

"i have firm faith that Hazrat Muhammad rasoolullah [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him]is khataman nabiyyeen, the seal of the prophets. I also believe that Hazrat mirza ghulam ahmad[peace be on him]was the same imam mahdi and promised messiah whose advent was prophesied by Hazrat Muhammad rasoolullah [peace be on him] !!

It may please be noted that coming of the holy promised messiah and imam mahdi is not against "khatam-un-nabiyyeen" as the holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on him] himself prophesied and gave the glade tiding of the coming of the holy promised messiah and the promised mahdi for the revival, renaissance and predominance of Islam in the latter days !!


maulvi bilal and his deobandi group members themselves are "munkir-e-khatm-e-nabuwwat" !

1.Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi, the founder "Deobandi Movement" written in his book "Tahzeer-un-Nas,
"Awam kay khial maain to Rasool-lu-Allah ka "Khatam" hona ba-ien mana hay keh aap ka zamana Anmbia-e-sabiq kay zamaney kay baad aur aap sab main Aakhri Nabi hain. Magar Ahl-e-Fahm par raoshan hoga keh taqadum ya taakhur e zamaney main bi-zzat kuch fazeelat nahein... Aur bil-farz baad zamah-e-Nabawi bhi koi Nabi PAIDA HO TO PHIR BHI "Khatamiyyat-e-Muhammadi" main kuch farq nan aaega" !! [Tahzeer-un-Nas page 3,28} It means that according to the common Muslims, the meaning of "Katam" of the Holy Prophet is this that His period is the last of the former prophets and He is the last prophet.

but it is well known to the enlightened Muslims that there is no any superiority in being the first and the last....
If, suppose, any prophet is born after the period of the holy prophet [peace be on him]even then there will be no harm in "khatamiyyat-e-muhammadi" !!
Due to this reference of Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi, the founder of Deobandi movement, Deobandiees in Pakistan are called "Munkir-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwat" and "Gustakh-e-Rasool" by the Brailvi majority Muslims in Pakistan!! So Maulvi Bilal and his Deobandi group members are themselves are "Munkir-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwat" and "Gustakh-e-Rasool", blasphemous to the holy prophet [peace be on Him] !!

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DEOBANDIES BY OPPOSING AHMADI MUSLIMS ARE DECEIVING MUSLIMS AS IF THEY ARE CHAMPIONS OF ISLAM !!

Deobandies by opposing Ahmadi Muslims are trying to deceive Muslims as if they are the champions of Islam !! While actually they are "Munkir-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwat" and ant-Islam. Their totally un-Islamic beliefs regarding Allah, The Holy Prophet... can be read by visiting

THE SECOND REASON WHY DEOBANDIES THEMSELVES ARE "MUNKIR-E-KHATM-E-NABUWWAT"
2.Maulvi Bilal and his Deobandi group members believe in the life Of Jesus Christ, the prophet in Heaven bodily since 2000 years and they also believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ after the Holy prophet Muhammad [PEACE BE ON HIM].

Believing in the life of Jesus Christ, the prophet and his second coming after the holy prophet Muhammad[peace be on him]clearly show that they do not believe in the finality of the holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on him]. So they themselves are "munkir-e-khatm-e-nabuwwat" !!

And whoso is munkir-e-khatm-e-nabuwwat, is not Muslim according to the amended constitution of Pakistan !!

Whoso is "Munkir-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwat" is "not Muslim" according to the amended constitution of Pakistan dated 7th September,1977.

As Mulvi Bilal and his Deobandi group members are "Munkir-e-Khatm-e-nabuwwat" so they are "Not-Muslim" according to the amended constitution of Pakistan. And they DIFFER FROM Islam !!

While we ahmadi Muslims, as we whole heartedly believe in "khatam-un-nabiyyeen" so we are real Muslims in the eyes of Allah !! Not in the eyes of "mukaffir" maulvies !!

Maulvi Bilal could not and can never reply my arguments till doomsday !!

Jesus Christ died like all the prophets. this Islamic belief. so he will not return.

According to maulvi belal, the sign of the promised messiah is that Jesus Christ is alive in heaven since 2000 years bodily and he himself will descend from heaven and he will be the promised messiah !!

While Jesus Christ died like all the prophets according to the 30 verses of the holy Quran and sayings of the holy prophet Muhammad[peace be on him] clearly . So he will not come again to become the promised messiah. Another holy man from ummat-e-muhammadiyya was to come in his place as john the Baptist came in the power and spirit of Elijah !!

Subject: Jesus Christ died like all other prophets. this is real Islamic belief
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Maulvi BelaL, Mr.Najeeb/Naji and all the truth
seekers,

1. May Allah guide you to right path of real Islam ahmadiyyat, the true Islam.

2.Open your heart and eyes. Don’t become like Jews who are still waiting for Elijah to come down from heaven since thousand years. Don't become like Christians who are believing and waiting for Jesus Christ will come down from heaven.

Be a true Muslim and accept the real Islamic belief, the death of Jesus Christ.

3.May Allah help you to accept and declare openly and with courage the real Islamic belief that Jesus Christ died like all the prophets according to the verses of the Holy Quran, sayings of the Holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on Him, latest historical facts and scientific discoveries.


MAULVI BELAL,NAJEEB/NAJI AND THEIR GROUP MEMBERS ARE DEAD CHRISTIAN ACCORDING TO THEIR BELIEFS !!

4.Christians believe in the life of Jesus Christ bodily in heaven since 2000 years ,so you also believe in His bodily life in heaven since 2000 years !! So you are a Christian by faith. You are such a staunch Christian that you believe in superiority's of Jesus Christ OVER ALL PROPHETS EVEN OVER THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD [peace be on Him]!!....Which EVEN CHRISTIANS DO NOT BELIEVE !!

But sorry to say that kafir maulvi belal, rashid ali, najeeb/najee and their group members believe in 14 superiority's of Jesus Christ to all the prophets even to the holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on him] !! So they have deserted real Islamic beliefs !!

They believe in that :-
[1]Jesus Christ is the only one whose birth is unique without a father .
[2]he is the only one who was safe from touching of Satan at his birth.
[3]he is the only one who used to speak wisdom in the cradle when he was of only a few days.
[4]he is the only one who used to create birds out of the clay.
[5-6] he is the only one who used to heal night-blind, the leprous only by touching them.
[7]he is the only one who used to raise the dead to life.
[8] and he is the only one who used to know the unseen and he used to tell people what you will eat and what you will store up in your houses.
[8]only his mother Mary surpassed all the women.
[9]he is the only one who is free from all sins that is why he never asked forgiveness for his sins while all other prophets asked for forgiveness.
[10]he is the only one who blessed with holy spirit and he the only one who is granted the title of kalematullah and roohullah in the holy Quran.
[11]he is the only one who was bestowed prophet hood and the book in his childhood.
[12]at the time of trial of crucifixion, he is the only one who ascended to heaven.
[13] and he is the only one who is alive in heaven bodily since 2000 years without eating, drinking even without oxygen!
[14] he is the only one who is alive in heaven bodily and will descend from heaven and will become the promised messiah and he will be the judge and all the people will accept him !!

Believing such kind of superiority's of Jesus Christ over all the prophets even to the holy prophet [peace be on him],kafir maulvi belal, najeeb and all their group members have deserted Islamic beliefs !!


DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST IS AN ACCEPTED ISLAMIC BELIEF

5.For you information there are so many saints of Islam and great scholars of Islam who believed in the death of Jesus Christ. They include Hazrat Imam Hassan, Hazrat Ibn-e-Abbas, Hazrat Imam Malik,Hazrat Imam ibn-e-Hazm,Hafiz Ibn-ul-Qayyem,Allamah Shaukani,Abu Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Yousuf,Allama Jabai,Hazrat Shaikh Mohayyuddin ibn Arabi,Hazrat Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab,Zain-ulAbedeen of Iran,Allama Shaltoot,Allama Rashid Raza,Ustaz Ahmad Alajooz,al-Ustaz Mustafa Al-Maraghi,al-Ustaz Abdul Karim Shareef, al-Ustaz Abdul Wahab aL-Najjar,Dr.Ahmad Zaki Abu Shadi of Egypt and Chief Mufti of Kenya. And from our sub-continent of Indo- Pak so many great scholars including Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi, Nawab Azam Yar Jang, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad,Allama Iqbal, Ghulam Ahmad Parwaiz, Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh, Allam Masreqi... believed in the death of Jesus Christ !!

VOICE OF ISLAM FROM MECCA !!

JESUS CHRIST WAS EXALTED AND RAISED SPIRITUALLY NOT BODILY !!
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6.I may tell you that Jesus Christ was raised spiritually not PHYSICALLY.HE WAS EXALTED !!
DON'T BE A CHRISTIAN IN FAITH IN FAITH!! I may remind you the translation of the Holy Quran by the name "MESSAGE OF THE QURAN" was published from Mecca under the auspices of "Rabetah Aalam-e-Islami" in 1965.

In that translation of the Holy Quran, the verse "Bal rafahullaho " is translated "He exalted Him unto Himself !! And the verse "Inni mutawaffika" is translated "I shall cause thee to die" and the verse "Falamma tawaffaitani" is translated" since thou hast caused me to die" !!

And in the commentary it is written,
"Nowhere in the Quran is there any warrant for the popular belief of many Muslims that God has taken up Jesus bodily into Heaven" !!

Mr.Najeeb/Naji ! are you ready to accept the voice of Islam from Mecca ?

LATEST DISCOVERIES ON THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST

7.According to the latest discoveries the tomb of Jesus Christ is found in 'rauza-e-Bal,Sarinagar,Kashmir.

PLEASE VISIT INFORMATIVE A MOVIE REGARDING JESUS CHRIST:-

HTTP://WWW.TOMBOFJESUS.COM

FOR THE LATEST DISCOVERIES REGARDING JESUS CHRIST WAS SAVED FROM THE CROSS AND HE DIED IN KASHMIR !! [PEACE BE ON HIM]

The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam

An Overview
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The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam is a religious organization, international in its scope, with branches in over 178 countries in Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Australasia, and Europe. At present, its total membership exceeds 200 million worldwide, and the numbers are increasing day by day. This is the most dynamic denomination of Islam in modern history. The Ahmadiyya Movement was established in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) in a small and remote village, Qadian, in the Punjab, India. He claimed to be the expected reformer of the latter days, the Awaited One of the world community of religions (The Mahdi and Messiah). The Movement he started is an embodiment of the benevolent message of Islam -- peace, universal brotherhood, and submission to the Will of God -- in its pristine purity. Hadhrat Ahmad proclaimed Islam as the religion of man: "The religion of the people of the right path" (98:6)

With this conviction, the Ahmadiyya Movement, within a century, has reached the corners of the Earth. Wherever the Movement is established, it endeavors to exert a constructive influence of Islam through social projects, educational institutes, health services, Islamic publications and construction of mosques, despite being bitterly persecuted in some countries. Ahmadi Muslims have earned the distinction of being a law-abiding, peaceful, persevering and benevolent community.
The Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam was created under divine guidance with the objective to rejuvenate Islamic moral and spiritual values. It encourages interfaith dialogue, and diligently defends Islam and tries to correct misunderstandings about Islam in the West. It advocates peace, tolerance, love and understanding among followers of different faiths. It firmly believes in and acts upon the Qur'anic teaching: "There is no compulsion in religion." (2:257) It strongly rejects violence and terrorism in any form and for any reason.
The Movement offers a clear presentation of Islamic wisdom, philosophy, morals and spirituality as derived from the Holy Qur'an and the practice (Sunnah) of the Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Some Ahmadis', like late Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan (who served as the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan; President of the 17th General Assembly of U.N.O.; President and Judge of the International Court of Justice, at the Hague), and Dr. Abdus Salam (the Nobel Laureate in Physics in 1979), have also been recognized by the world community for their outstanding services and achievements.

After the demise of its founder, the Ahmadiyya Movement has been headed by his elected successors -- Khalifas. The present Head of the Movement, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, was elected in 2003. His official title is Khalifatul Massih V.

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SOME MERITORIOUS AND UNIQUE SERVICES OF THE HOLYFOUNDER OF AHMADIYYA MOVEMENT IN ISLAM!!
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[1]THE HOLY FOUNDER OF AHMADIYYA MOVEMENT IN ISLAM WROTE MORE THAN 80 BOOKS WHICH ARE THE SOURCE OF EXTRAORDINARY FAITH ENHANCING KNOWLEDGE BASED ON THE HOLY QURAN,SAYINGS OF THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD [PEACE BE ON HIM] AND THE HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES.

By writing of these 80 books, He refuted the objections of enemies of Islam effectively. He highlighted the truthfulness and beauties of Islam, the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet Muhammad [peace be on Him] in such a way no enemy of Islam dared to refute his arguments. He, by reason and arguments, proved the superiority and predominance of Islam over all religions. He vindicated the true Islamic teachings and beliefs in pristine purity according to the Holy Quran and sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad [peace be on Him].He challenged all the Ulemaas of His age to face him and compete with Him in writing the best interpretation and commentary of the Holy Quran but no maulvi could dare to face Him. He is the champion of mentioning the Arabic is the source of All languages. His devotional love to the Holy Prophet [peace be on Him]and to the Holy Quran and Islam in his writings in Urdu, Arabic and Persian is unique and unparalleled!! He proved by arguments that Jesus Christ did not die on the Cross and after being cured of his injuries of the cross He traveled to Kashmir to find out the lost tribes of Israel to preach His message. And he died over there at the age of 120 years. By these two historical and scientific discoveries He accomplished the noble job of "KASR-E-SALEEB" ACCORDING TO THE PROPHECY OF THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD PEACE BE ON HIM.

He proved by reason and arguments that Islam is the only living religion, the holy Quran is the only living holy book and the holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on him]is the only living prophet. Because by following them there had been hundred thousands saints of Islam who were gifted by spiritual favors of Allah and now-a-day Allah has gifted him with untold spiritual favors in such a way that no enemy of Islam could face him.

Such a marvelous, divine, noble and unique works in support of Islam, can an ordinary man perform ? No never; but whosoever alleges false allegations against the holy prophet Muhammad and his illustrious humble servant of Islam [peace be on them],he himself is a mad and possessed man !!

[2]Allah the lord of all the lords blessed him, his family and his followers all over the world with the uncountable worldly favors and of spiritual favors.
[3] and these favors of Allah are continued for ever by the grace of Allah due to the blessings of the following of the holy prophet Muhammad and his spiritual son the holy promised messiah [peace be on him].

[4] the holy founder of ahmadiyya movement was of the exalted character according to the elite Muslims and non-Muslims of his age. See the comments of uncountable elite personalities including maulvi Muhammad Hussein batalve, sufi ahmad jan, maulvi siraj-ud-din father of maulvi zafar ali khan, editor "zamindar", hazrat baba ghulam farid of chachran shareef etc.

[5] whoso came in extreme opposition to the holy promised messiah and mahdi [peace be on him] was afflicted with various chastisements from Allah, the almighty.

[6]and the history of ahmadiyyat shows that Allah with his mighty hands helped the holy promised messiah, his family and his followers throughout the world and blessed them with glorious successes. Such kind of favors and blessings can not be bestowed and given to to a false prophet and reformer.

Sign of the Eclipses

Hadhrat Ali bin Umar al-Darqutni (918-995) has recorded a tradition (Hadith) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing of Allah be on him, in his book Sunan Dar Qutni, as reported by Hadhrat Imam Baqar, regarding the appearance of Imam Mahdi. It states that one of the signs for the appearance of the Mahdi will be that the Moon will be eclipsed on the first night of the three possible nights of an eclipse. And the Sun will be eclipsed on the middle day of the three possible days of an eclipse. Both will occur in the month of Ramadhan. This heavenly sign occurred during the month of Ramadhan in April 1894 when Hudhoor had already declared that he was the Mahdi Mauood (Promised Mahdi). There was an eclipse of the Moon on the first night of the three possible night’s i.e. the 13th Ramadhan, 1311 Hijra (March 21st, 1894) and there was an eclipse of the Sun on the middle day of the three possible days i.e. 28th Ramadhan 1311 Hijra (April 6th, 1894).

Next year in the western hemisphere, the Moon was eclipsed on March 11, 1895 and the Sun was eclipsed on March 26th, 1895.

This great sign is referred to as Sign of the Eclipses. This sign has been pointed out in Chapter al-Qiyama (75:9) of the Holy Quran also. In the Bible (Mark 13:24) it is also stated “ But in those days, after that tribulation, the Sun shall be darkened, and the Moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall be falling from the heaven and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken”.
This was another glorious sign manifested by Allah the Exalted to prove the truthfulness of His servant the Promised Messiah (AS).


SOME ARGUMENTS OF THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THE HOLY PROMISED MESSIAH [peace be on Him] HIS GLORIOUS SUCCESS !!


6.Had the holy promised Messiah and Mahdi, the founder of Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam not been from Allah, the Almighty, He would have not succeeded in his sacred mission all over the world in face of extreme opposition from all quarters of opponents.


NO FALSE PROPHET CAN SUCCEED

No pretender and FALSE prophet can succeed in his mission according to the verses of the holy Quran. God helps only to His true messengers. see the verses of the Holy Quran Surah Yunus verse 18 .Surah Ta Ha verse 62,Sura Al-Mujadelah verse 22 , Surah Al-Safat verses 172,173,174 and Anbia verse 45

By the help and grace of Allah Ahmadiyya movement in Islam is progressing day by day and is now spread in more than 178 countries of the world numbering more than 200 millions people in spite of extreme opposition from all from all quarters, Christians, Muslims, Hindoos...etc. This onward progress and success throughout the world over clearly shows the truthfulness of the Holy promised Messiah and Mahdi [peace be on Him].


ARGUMENTS OF THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THE HOLY PROMISED MESSIAH AND MAHDI


The arguments of the truthfulness of the holy Promised Messiah and Mahdi are the same by which we prove the truthfulness of all the reformers and prophets.

There are three basic arguments for the truthfulness of the holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on Him] in the verse of the holy Quran,

“Af man kana ala bayyenatin-mir-Rabbehi wa yatlooho shahedun minho wa min qablehi kitabo moosa imamam wa rahmah. [Surah Hud verse 18].
It means there are three basic arguments to show the truthfulness of the holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on Him].

Three arguments in three times, past, present and future: -

1. In the present age, [when the holy prophet came 1400 years before] He came with clear signs and miracles of God.

2. In the past age, He came according to the prophecies and revelations of the former prophets and sacred scriptures.

3. In the future, His prophecies and revelations will be fulfilled. And in the future A GREAT WITNESS will come and vindicate the truthfulness of the holy prophet [peace be on Him] by heavenly signs, miracles and arguments.

All these three basic arguments are the arguments for the truthfulness of the holy Promised Messiah and Mahdi [peace be on him].

1.He came with three hundred thousands signs and miracles of God according to His marvelous book “Haqiqat-ul-Wahye” page 67-68.

2.He came in accordance with the prophecies of former prophets and the sacred scriptures.

3.He was blessed with and recipient of the prophecies and revelations abundantly about the future. Hundred of those of those Prophecies and revelations have been fulfilled and some revelations are yet to be fulfilled.

In this connection, in view of the above-mentioned basic three arguments, by the grace of Allah I have composed a detailed thesis consisting of 600 pages on computer, on the topic,

“ One Hundred And Eleven [111] distinguishing signs and features of the true Promised Messiah and Mahdi in Comparison to Masih-e-Dajjal” according to the revelations and prophecies of the sacred scriptures, the holy Bible, the holy Quran, the sayings of the holy prophet and sayings of the saints of Islam.

This computerized thesis can be obtained on contributions.

Some arguments of the truthfulness of the Holy Promised Messiah and Mahdi are written hereunder: -

HE Came in accordance of the prophecies

1. He came in accordance of the prophecies and revelations of the early Prophets and sacred scriptures: -

According to the revelations and prophecies, his name is Ahmad, he came at the head of the fourteenth century, in the East, in India, in the east of Damascus, in a village Qadian, his community’s name is “Ahmadi”, his complexion is wheat color, [“gandami”] having straight hair, “different to Jesus Christ, Whose complexion was reddish having curly hair, according to the sayings of the prophet peace be on Him.

He was from the Persian progeny.
He claimed to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi in 1890-91, at the right time, at the time of triumph of Christianity to break the Cross, at the end of thirteenth and beginning of the fourteenth century of Hijra according to the prophecies of the sacred scriptures..

He was blessed with pious progeny especially with an illustrious promised son “Musleh-e-Maud” having outstanding 58 attributes according to the prophecies of “Talmood”, Bible, the saying of the holy Prophet [peace be on Him] and the prophecies of the holy Promised Messiah [peace be on Him].

He repulsed the onslaughts and objections raised against Islam, the holy Quran and the holy prophet from all quarters of Christians, Areyas, Hindus, Philosophers and proved the truthfulness, superiority and predominance of Islam over all religions by heavenly signs, reasons and arguments and not by sword.

He vindicated the saving of Jesus Christ from the accursed death on the cross and reformed the Christian beliefs of divinity of Jesus Christ, trinity and atonement and explained the realities in this connection. He proved the death of Jesus Christ and he pointed out that his grave is found in Sarinagar, Kashmir, in India. By these latest discoveries he proved the untruthfulness of Christian beliefs and performed the remarkable job of “Kasr-e-Saleeb” prophesied by the holy Prophet of Islam!!

Now the crumbling of Christianity as a religion and softening the world of trinity like the melting snow is a great sign of God.

The holy Promised Messiah had so many similarities with Jesus Christ that is why he was called, ”Ibn-e-Maryam”.

As Jesus Christ came in fourteenth century after Moses without a new code of life, he didn’t come to abrogate the old testament [Torah], he came to fulfill the commandments of Moses. So also the holy Promised Messiah came in fourteenth century after the holy Prophet Muhammad [peace be on Him] and he did not bring a new [shariah] code of life, he did not come to abrogate the holy Quran; he came to fulfill the commandments of the holy Quran and to preach its message throughout the world!! . He vindicated the universal religious brotherhood by highlighting the truthfulness of all the prophets and divines of all religions including, Krishna, Ramah, Buddha and Guru Bawa Nanak [peace be on them] according to the teachings of the holy Quran,

Wa inmin ummatin illa khala fiha nazeer” and “wa lkulle qaumin haad” and “ wa lkulle ummatin rasool” [Surah Fatir verse 25 and Surah Rad verse 8 and Surah Yunus verse 48] It means that in every nation we have sent our reformers, spiritual guides, warners and messengers.

And He came after “Masih-e-Dajjal ” to defend Islamic values.

The holy Promised Messiah written more than 90 remarkable books in which he vindicated the beauties and superiorities of ISLAM, THE HOLY PROPHET AND THE HOLY QURAN over all religions.

By the grace of Allah I have composed 23 articles on computer on various subjects of Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam. One of those articles is the comprehensive research work on the topic of “The beauties and superiorities of Islam and the Holy Quran in comparison to other religions” I have picked up 32 beauties and superiorities of Islam and the holy Quran from the ideas and writings of the holy Promised Messiah [peace be on him].

This comprehensive thesis consisting of 800 pages can be available by contributions.
. The holy Promised Messiah reformed some ideas and beliefs attributed to Islam, the holy Quran and the holy Prophet of Islam. And he vindicated the reality of various

Islamic beliefs regarding God, angles, holy books, the holy Quran, the prophets, The holy Prophet Muhammad [peace be on Him], fourteen supposed superiorities of Jesus Christ over all prophets, Jin, Satan, Dajjal [Anti-Christ], Jihad, Revelation reality and blessings of prayers, life after death, Heaven and Hell etc. Such kind of his work is called,” Tajdeed-e-Din” reformation of the supposed beliefs of Islam.

. The holy Promised Messiah, due to his piety and devotional love to the holy Prophet was granted miraculously the knowledge of holy Quran and “Oloom-o-Maarif” in such a way that nobody could compete with him.

. He claimed to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi after having the revelations from God and He was recipient of the revelations of God for 40 years, which no false prophet can achieve such a long period.

. The holy Promised Messiah due to the devotional love and following to the holy Prophet Muhammad [peace be on Him] was blessed with communion with God abundantly and was granted revelations and prophecies of God abundantly.

Due to these great favors in abundance, He was given the unique spiritual title of “Prophet and Ummati”. His revelations are compiled in a book called, “Tazkirah” consisting more than 500 pages!!

. He was vehemently opposed from all quarters of Muslims, Christians, and Hindus etc as it had been used to with all the reformers and prophets. Due to the extreme opposition and “Takzeeb” the world experienced numerous annihilating wars, earthquakes, pestilences and terrible catastrophes according to the prophecies.

In accordance to the saying of the holy prophet [peace be on Him], the Ahmadiyya Jma’at was excluded from all other 72 Muslim sects during the anti-Ahmadiyya disturbances of Pakistan in 1953 and 1974. While the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is the only Jama’at having resemblance to holy Prophet Muhammad and His companions, which shows their truthfulness.

After the advent of the holy Promised Messiah Allah has brought about revolutionary changes and development of science and technology and speedy means of communications to unite the world according to the prophecies of the sacred books including the holy Quran.

. Allah has established the sublime, unique and blessed order of “Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya” after the demise of the holy promised Messiah according to the prophecies of holy Quran and sayings of the holy Prophet [peace be on Him]. The present spiritual head of Ahmadiyya movement in Islam is Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who was elected on 22nd April,2003 as khalifat-ul-masih-ul-Khamis [aba],the fifth successor to the holy Promised Messiah [peace be on Him]

By this blessed “Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya” Ahmadi Muslims are united and well organized all over the world for the sacred cause of spreading Islam and establishing the spiritual revolution throughout the world!!

SIGNS AND MIRACLES OF GOD
---------------------------

2.The holy promised Messiah came with hundred thousands signs and miracles of God, some of these signs were shown in various parts of the world.

. His thirty thousand prayers were accepted regarding his family, friends and foes.

. God showed two great heavenly signs of lunar and solar eclipses according to the revelations and prophecies of the holy Bible, the holy Quran, the saying of the holy prophets and the saints of Islam. These two eclipses were to occur in the time of the Promised Messiah and Mahdi in the month of Ramadan. It being quite an unusual natural phenomenon strangely enough, both the Moon and the Sun were eclipsed on the specified dates in the month of Ramadan in 1894 in India and 1895 in the western world!! When the founder of ahmadiyya movement had already claimed that He was the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. And He himself strongly explained these two heavenly signs in support of his truthfulness.

. Thousands people after having visions and dreams testified the truthfulness of the holy Promised Messiah peace be on Him.

. According to the revelations, the death of Piggott of England and the death of Alexander Dowie of Zion, Illinois, U.S.A on March 8,1904 and the death of Joseph Smith, he founder of the Mormon Church, America were great signs of God for the West and the death of Pandit Lekhram was a great sign of God for the people of India.

His Revelations and Prophecies fulfilled
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There was a time when the holy founder of Ahmadiyya movement in Islam was un- known person in his town in Qadian. . Nobody knew him. In those very days Allah revealed to him in the words:-

“I SHALL CAUSE THY MESSAGE TO REACH THE CORNERTS OF THE EARTH”.

According to this great prophecy now the message of Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam is reaching the corners of the Earth.

Now the Ahmadiyya movement in Islam has spread in more than 174 countries in Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Australia and Europe. At present its total membership exceeds 170 millions. And the numbers are increasing day by day. Ahmadiyya movement within a century reached the corners of the Earth.

Through M.T.A [Ahmadiyya Muslim Television] the voice of Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam is reaching all over the world .The holy Quran has been translated and published in 52 languages of the world, in near future the number of the translations of the holy Quran will be 100 by the grace of Allah. All these faith enhancing sacred works for the onward progress of Islam are being done due to the favors of Allah and due to the blessings of khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya. Under the Divine guidance of the present international spiritual head, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad,Khalifat-ul-Masih-ul- Khamis [aba], the Ahmadiyya Community is progressing extraordinarily all over the world.

. Allah revealed to the holy Promised Messiah,

“Whoso ever helps him in his sacred cause, Allah will help him and whoso disgraces him, Allah will disgrace him.”

This prophecy has been fulfilled hundred thousands times. Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan helped the holy Promised Messiah.

He Was Promoted to the foreign Minister of Pakistan for a long time, he Presented the case of Palestine and Kashmir effectively in U.N.O. and became the President of General Assembly of U.N.O and the President Judge of International court of Justice, Hague!!

And whoso wanted to disgrace Him, Allah disgraced him.

A great prophecy regarding the former prime minister of Pakistan Mr. Bhutto and the former army ruler Zia-ul-Haq has been fulfilled miraculously according to the book, ”Zia-ul-Haq” written and published by the holy promised in 1895. !! The whole world was astonished to know the hanging of Mr. Bhutto in 1979 and blowing up the aircraft of General Zia-ul-Haq in 1988!!

AHMADIYYA MOVEMENT IN ISLAM, ITS FOUNDING AND ONWARD PROGRESS


Ahmadiyya movement in Islam was founded under the Divine guidance by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the holy Promised Messiah ,Promised Mahdi and the Reformer of the latter days on 23rd March,1889 at Ludhiana, in India with the objective to rejuvenate Islamic moral and spiritual values. It advocates peace, tolerance, love and understanding among the followers of different faiths. It firmly believes and acts upon the Quranic teaching: “La ikraha fi-ddin” [2: 57]. It means THERE IS NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION. It strongly rejects violence and terrorism in any form and for any reason. Islam is the religion of peace.

Ahmadiyya movement in Islam is not a mundane movement or a political party. It is a purely religious worldwide organization. It is founded under divine guidance according to the prophecies and revelations of sacred scriptures, the holy Bible, the holy Quran and sayings of the holy prophet Muhammad peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

The holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on him] gave glad tidings in his sayings that “Masih-e-Maud” and the Promised Mahdi will come in the latter days when Islam and Muslims will remain by name only and the holy Quran will be left in words only. Enemies of Islam particularly Dajjal [Anti-Christ] and Gog and Magog will supersede the whole world in such a way that no other power can face them and the people will about to think that Islam is a spent force, short lived and will perish away!! In such odd circumstances the holy prophet clearly prophesied, ”Kaifa tahleko ummati ana fi awwaleha wal-masiho fi aakhreha”! It means how my ummat can perish when I am at its beginning and the Messiah is at its end!

A GREAT PROPHECY OF THE HOLY QURA’AN


In the verse of the holy Qura’an,” huwallzi baasa
fil-ummeyyeena rasoolan minhum …….wa aakhreena minhumlamma yalhaqu behim” [Surah Jumu ah verse 3-4], Allah prophesied that holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on Him] was sent not only for the Arabs among whom He was raised but for all non-Arabs as well, and not only for his contemporaries but also for the generations to come till the end of time.

THIS VERSE ALSO SIGNIFIES THAT THE HOLY PROPHET WILL BE RAISED AMONG OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT YET MET AND JOINED HIS IMMEDIATE FOLLOWERS.
The reference in the verse is to the second advent of the holy prophet himself in the person of the Promised Messiah in the latter days.

In the commentary of this verse, there is a saying of the holy prophet in the authentic book of Bukhari. And that is: -

Abu Hurairah says, “One day we were sitting with the holy prophet when Surah Jumuah was revealed. I enquired from the holy prophet for three times, who are these people to whom the words, “And among others of them who have not yet joined them, refer”?

Salman Farsi, the Persian, was sitting among us. Upon my repeatedly asking him the same question, the holy prophet put his hand on Salman and said,” If faith were to go up to the Pleiades, A MAN from these would surely, find it “!!

[Bukhari kitab-u-tafseer, commentary of surah Jumuah verse “wa aakhreena minhum lamma yalhaqoo behim”] This saying of the holy prophet shows that the verse applies to a man of Persian descent. Thus the Quran in the present verse refers to the Second Advent of the holy prophet in the person of the Promised Messiah.

This verse also shows the sublime and unique status of the holy promised Messiah in “Ummat-e-Muhammadiyya”. He is the only one who is complete image [aks-e-Kamil] of the holy prophet peace be on him. That is why the coming of the holy promised Messiah is mentioned in this verse, the coming of the holy prophet Muhammad peace be upon Him.

And due to being the complete image [Aqs-e-kamil] of the holy prophet, only the holy promised Messiah in “ummat-e-muhammadiyya” was given the sublime and unique spiritual title of “Nabi and Ummati” by the holy Prophet!!

The above mentioned verse of the holy Quran,” Howallzi baasa fil ummeyyeena rasoolan minhuh…. Wa aakhareena minhum” clearly shows that holy prophet Muhammad [peace be on Him] was sent

For two kinds of people: -

[1] For “Ummeyyeen” for those people who were illiterate

[2] And for other people who were different from “Ummeyyeen” [they were to be literate and educated] and they yet did not meet and joined the earliest companions of the holy prophet [peace be on Him]. So by these words of the holy Quran, it is clysters clear that there are two advents and two periods, [two “zahoors” and two “Nashateen”] periods of renaissances for the holy prophet and Islam.

In the first advent and the first period was called the period of “takmeel-e-Din” when the “Shariah” of the holy Quran was completed and the aspect of “Jalal”, the glory and grandeur of the holy prophet and Islam was shown to the world like the shining and glowing of the Sun!!
And in the Second Advent and in the second period, the aspect of “Kamal” of the holy Prophet, and the beauties and superiorities of the holy prophet, the holy Quran and Islam, were destined to be shown like the sweet, pleasant and consoling light of the Moon!

And in this Second Advent and in this second period of the holy prophet, which is the indirect period of the holy promised Messiah, the victory and predominance of Islam throughout the world was prophesied in the holy Quran. [Surah Fatah verse 29 and Surah Assaf verse 10].

This golden and blessed period is called the period of the complete propagation of Islam throughout the world and the period of world-unification,[“Takmeel-e-Ishaat-e-Din” and “Wahdat-e-aqwam-e-alam”] when all the people of all countries became united due to various speedy means of communications. This was a Divine plan so that the peaceful message of the holy Quran and Islam, should reach easily to the corners of Earth!! And the whole world should be united like a global village in one Religion and in one world order of humanity!!

In this blessed period it was destined and prophesied that the beauties of the holy prophet and the teachings of the holy Quran and superiorities of Islam were to be widely published and spread throughout the world in such a way that Islam will to be victorious and dominant over all religions by heavenly signs, arguments and reasons and not by sword!!

The Prophecies of the sacred scriptures including the holy Quran Are fulfilled in this age. The long awaited, the holy Promised Messiah has came at the right time and at the right place and His movement is spreading by leaps and bounds all over the world in spite of extreme opposition and persecutions from all quarters of Muslims, Christians, Hindus and others.

Now in this 15th Hijrah century, we hope that all the good-natured people from all over the world will rally around the banner of Islam, and will be gathered under the blessed footsteps of the holy prophet Muhammad peace be upon Him. There will be one God, One religion and one humanity!! The new world order of Islam, and “Love for all, hatred for none “ will be established. GOD WILLING !

May Allah help us to fulfill our responsibilities in this sacred cause and may Allah open the eyes of Muslim brothers and others to accept the Holy Promised Messiah and Mahdi and reformer of the latter days. Amin.

------------------------------

A HUMBLE SERVANT OF AHMADIYYA MOVEMENT IN ISLAM

dmshahed@yahoo.com www.alislam.org www.tombofjesus.com

Who speaks for Islam?

http://www.levantinecenter.org/pages/releases/who_speaks_for_islam.htm

CONTACT- Jordan Elgrably 610.657.5511
Nile El-Wardani 310.254.5530

WHO SPEAKS FOR ISLAM? WHAT A BILLION MUSLIMS REALLY THINK

New Gallup Book & Public Forum with co-author Dalia Mogahed & "24" producer Howard Gordon Challenges Western Assumptions & Stereotypes of the Muslim World

PRESS PREVIEW - Monday April 28th @ 10:30 am-noon
LOS ANGELES PRESS CLUB
4773 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 90027. Tel. 323.669.8081.

PUBLIC FORUM - Tuesday April 29TH @ 7:30 pm
MARK TAPER AUDITORIUM, LA Central Library, Downtown
5th and Flower Streets, Los Angeles 90071

"In these fraught days of heightened tension and increasing hostility, few books could be more timely." —Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize winner

[LOS ANGELES, APRIL 9, 2008] Who really speaks for Islam? Based on the largest and most in-depth study of its kind, Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think presents the remarkable findings of the Gallup Organization's six-year poll of the Muslim world-the first ever data-based analysis of the points of view of more than 90% of the global Muslim community, spanning nearly 40 countries and representing 1.3 Billion Muslims.

On Tuesday, April 29, 7:30 pm, co-author DALIA MOGAHED will discuss "Who Speaks for Islam?" with "24" executive producer HOWARD GORDON and special guests in a public forum moderated by KPFK's NILE EL-WARDANI. Gordon is an American screenwriter and producer who graduated from Princeton; his writing/producing credits include "The X Files," and "24."

A press conference on Monday, April 28, 10:30 a.m.-noon, will take place at the Los Angeles Press Club, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 90027. Tel. 323.669.8081.

Who Speaks for Islam?

In the largest study of its kind, Gallup's findings challenge popular notions, mainstream media pundits and the inevitability of a global conflict as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue. Despite widespread media coverage of global terrorism from America and Europe to the Middle East and Asia, little is known about what majorities of the world's Muslims really think and feel. What do Muslims say about violence and terrorist attacks? What do they say about democracy, women, and relations with the West? What are their values, goals, and religious beliefs?

Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think by John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed (Gallup Press; hardcover) sheds new light into the "increasing hostility" that Archbishop Tutu characterizes.

Tuesday, April 29, 7:30 pm, Mark Taper Auditorium, Los Angeles Central Public Library, 5th and Flower Streets, Los Angeles 90071. Free to the public, donations welcome. RSVPs required: 310. 657.5511. Visit levantinecenter.org.

This program is presented by the Levantine Cultural Center. It is sponsored by OneNation, a philanthropic collaborative with the vision of fostering a national conversation about the common values we share as Americans, regardless of how we choose to express our spirituality. One Nation sponsors projects—such as this public forum—that challenge stereotypes and misperceptions of Muslims and Islam by shining a spotlight on our shared values, beliefs and responsibilities. This program is cosponsored by the Los Angeles Public Library, Social Sciences Department; The99.org/Teshkeel Media Group, the Muslim-West Facts Initiative; the Muslim Public Affairs Council, Muslims for Progressive Values, and USC's Center for Religion and Civic Culture which promotes research related to the involvement of religion and religious institutions in civic culture, emphasizing the study of religion, cultural pluralism, community organizing, community development and public policy.

MORE BACKGROUND

In the wake of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, U.S. public officials seemed to have no idea whether or not many Muslims supported the bombings. This troubled Gallup Chairman and CEO Jim Clifton, who felt that "no one in Washington had any idea what 1.3 billion Muslims were thinking, and yet we were working on intricate strategies that were going to change the world for all time." Clifton commissioned his company to undertake this enormous research project.

The result is Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think, based on six years of research and more than 50,000 interviews representing 1.3 billion Muslims who reside in more than 35 nations that are predominantly Muslim or have sizable Muslim populations. Representing more than 90% of the world's Muslim community, this poll is the largest, most comprehensive study of its kind.

What the data reveals and the authors illuminate may surprise you:

• Muslims and Americans are equally likely to reject attacks on civilians as morally unjustifiable.
• Large majorities of Muslims would guarantee free speech if it were up to them to write a new constitution AND they say religious leaders should have no direct role in drafting that constitution.
• Muslims around the world say that what they LEAST admire about the West is its perceived moral decay and breakdown of traditional values - the same answers that Americans themselves give when asked this question.
• When asked about their dreams for the future, Muslims say they want better jobs and security, not conflict and violence.
• Muslims say the most important thing Westerners can do to improve relations with their societies is to change their negative views toward Muslims and respect Islam.

The research suggests that conflict between Muslims and the West is NOT inevitable and, in fact, is more about policy than principles. "However," caution Esposito and Mogahed, "until and unless decision makers listen directly to the people and gain an accurate understanding of this conflict, extremists on all sides will continue to gain ground."

Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think is an important book that challenges conventional wisdom and sheds greater light on what motivates Muslims worldwide. It is a must-read for anyone committed to creating peace and security in our lifetime.

About the Authors
John L. Esposito, Ph.D., is a leading expert on the Muslim world. He is University Professor and a professor of religion and international affairs and of Islamic studies at Georgetown University and the founding director of Georgetown's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding in the Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also the past president of the Middle East Studies Association of North America and of the American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies and a consultant to governments and multinational corporations. Esposito is editor in chief of The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World and Oxford Islamic Studies Online. His more than 35 books include What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam and Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam. He currently resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Jeanette P. Esposito, Ph.D.

Dalia Mogahed is a senior analyst and executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies. She leads the analysis of Gallup's unprecedented study of more than 1 billion Muslims worldwide. Mogahed also directs the Muslim-West Facts Initiative, through which Gallup, in collaboration with The Coexist Foundation, is disseminating the findings of the Gallup World Poll to key opinion leaders in the Muslim World and the West. She travels the globe engaging audiences on what Muslims around the world really think. Her analysis has appeared in a number of leading publications, including The Economist, the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy magazine, Harvard International Review, Middle East Policy, and many other academic and popular journals. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, Mohamed, and two sons, Tariq and Jibreel.

Counterintuitive Discoveries in
Who Speaks for Islam? Who Speaks for the West?

• Muslims around the world do not see the West as monolithic. They criticize or celebrate countries based on their politics, not based on their culture or religion.
• Dream Jobs
When asked to describe their dreams for the future, Muslims don't mention fighting in a jihad, but rather getting a better job.
• Radical Rejection
Muslims and Americans are equally likely to reject attacks on civilians as morally unjustified.
• Religious Moderates
Those who condone acts of terrorism are a minority and are no more likely to be religious than the rest of the population.
• Admiration of the West
What Muslims around the world say they most admire about the West is its technology and its democracy - the same two top responses given by Americans when asked the same question.
• Critique of the West
What Muslims around the world say they least admire about the West is its perceived moral decay and breakdown of traditional values - the same responses given by Americans when posed the same question.
• Gender Justice
Muslim women want equal rights and religion in their societies.
• Respect
Muslims around the world say that the one thing the West can do to improve relations with their societies is to moderate their views toward Muslims and respect Islam.
• Clerics and Constitutions
The majority of those surveyed want religious leaders to have no direct role in crafting a constitution yet favor religious law as a source of legislation.

Adapted from Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think by John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed; Copyright © 2007 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.

Advance Praise for Who Speaks for Islam?

"Who Speaks for Islam? quantifies the mutual misunderstanding between the West and the Muslim World, allowing us all to take the first necessary step in bridging the dangerously widening divide." —Howard Gordon, Executive Producer of the Academy Award winning series "24"

"As our world spirals out of control with greater violence and misunderstanding between the West and the Muslim world, Who Speaks for Islam? cuts through the conflicting rhetoric of politicians and pundits and presents the often-silenced voice of Muslims everywhere. I cannot imagine a more important or more badly needed intervention." —Deepak Chopra, author of Peace is the Way

"The data presented in this book are not only arresting, but indispensable. Who Speaks for Islam? should be required reading for policy makers, journalists, broadcasters, teachers, students, and scholars." —Karen Armstrong, author of A History of God

"At once incisive and provocative, this book is brimming with valuable insights into what Muslims think about religion, democracy, women's rights, extremism, and Muslims' relations with the West. This is a must-read for pundits and policy makers, specialists and non-specialists, American or Muslim." —Vali Nasr, author of The Shia Revival: How Conflicts Within Islam Will Shape the Future

"Who Speaks for Islam? teaches us about one of the most important issues of our time. The book contains many surprises about how Westerners and Muslims view one another." —Jessica Stern, author of Terror in the Name of God and Academic Director of the Program on Terrorism and the Law at Harvard Law School

"This is an important book. Years after 9/11, politics and quick judgments continue to stand in the way of a clear-eyed view of the Muslim world. Not so for Esposito and Mogahed. They provide powerful evidence and compelling logic that shows Muslims around the world have many of the same hopes and dreams, and face many of the same issues and concerns, as other people do." —Robert Pape, author of Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism and Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago

"Who Speaks for Islam? could not be more timely. It provides essential insights into the thinking and attitudes of a large part of the global Muslim population on critical issues such as democracy, theocracy, extremism, jihad, women's rights, and the prospects of cooperation or conflict between the West and the Muslim world." —Ambassador Edward P. Djerejian, former assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs; founding director, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University

Reservations strongly suggested as seating is limited. Call 310.657.5511 or online at levantinecenter.org.

Media contacts: Jordan Elgrably, 310.402.8866 or Nile El-Wardani, 310.254.5430.

Muslim Philantrophist Meet

World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists

A few articles on the subject:
1. Charity organizations unite against rising poverty
2. Muslim philanthropists seek cooperation with the rest of the world
3. New Group Meets to Promote Muslim Charity Worldwide
4. “Do good works, engage politically, and get involved”

Charity organizations unite against rising poverty
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=137110

The first international World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists took place in İstanbul over the weekend under the theme "Facing Challenges and Finding Solutions."

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the event in which he said charity is a common human value that transcends cultures and beliefs.

"Because of problems stemming from changing ecological conditions, inequalities in income distribution and injustice in the world, millions of people live in difficult conditions," he said.
Pointing out the importance of nongovernmental charities at times when natural disaster strikes, Erdoğan said such institutions must work effectively and strengthen the public's charitable feelings. "One of the most fundamental ways to achieve this is by making the activities of these charity organizations transparent, with financing at the top of the list," he said. Erdoğan also highlighted the need to maintain efficiency among NGOs as they coordinate independent activities and services.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Religious Affairs Directorate head Professor Ali Bardakoğlu stated that social charities are not inferior to religious exercises. "The Quran demands of us to think about those living next to us. We should broaden the social aspect of our religious devotion," he said.

South African Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool supported Bardakoğlu's emphasis on dialogue between religions. Lamenting the Western perspective of the Muslim world as underdeveloped and violent, Rasool underlined that Muslim countries should combine to launch a $20 million grant of aid under a specific fund, even while struggling with poverty.

State Minister for Women and Children's Affairs Nimet Çubukçu also supported a point raised by Rasool that poverty is not just a problem among old people but also one affecting the young. Although feelings like benefaction, compassion and charity have not been highly valued in recent years, they will continue forever within humanity, Çubukçu said, adding, "Love, solidarity and charity are the things that make us human."

Qatar Princess Sheikha Al-Thani took the opportunity to highlight that more than 100 million children worldwide do not attend school -- most of them in the Middle East.

One of the main points raised during the congress was the pressure on Muslim countries following Sept. 11 and how this affected the battle against poverty in these regions. "Following Sept. 11, Muslim charity organizations were shut down due to pressure," said Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary-General Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu.

Doctors Worldwide-Turkey head İhsan Kahraman, also speaking at the congress, considered the gathering as a step to coordinate the feelings of individual compassion and benevolence to those in need across the world. British Minister for International Development Shahid Malik, on the other hand, emphasized that in order to end Islamophobia in the Christian world, there is an urgent need for Muslim politicians.

İstanbul Governor Muammer Güler, al-Jazeera Network General Director Wadah Khanfar, the heads of various charity organizations, businessmen, academics and other charitable individuals also attended the congress.

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Muslim philanthropists seek cooperation with the rest of the world
Monday, March 24, 2008
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=99840
Philanthropists and charitable organizations the world over are moved by different incentives, said educator Hamza Yusuf Hansor, noting that secular donors help people for secular reasons, while Muslims do it for the sake of God.

Hanson, the founder of the U.S.-based Zaytuna Institute and Academy, was in Istanbul over the weekend to participate in the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists (WCMP).

“Bill Gates donates $1 billion and he doesn't believe in anything, however Muslims are not that organized and should be ashamed of it,” Hanson said in an interview with the Turkish Daily News. “Gates donates one out of every $6 billion, but it is still not enough, since people like him have billions while poorer people suffer across the world,” said Hanson.

Since Muslim philanthropists are poorly organized, their activities are not visible around the world, many Congress attendees agreed.

Another factor is a modesty inherent to Islam, one participant observed.

“Philanthropy is not visible among Muslims, because we believe in the secrecy of it, said Ebrahim Rasool, premier of the Western Cape of South Africa. “Islam says you should not tell one another about your favor and charity.”

Meanwhile, Christian charities are highly organized, because they lack the stigma of secrecy.

“Everyone who gives publicizes it,” Rasool said. “Muslims give, they but hide it; however, while we remain modest, we must be coordinated, too.”

An organization that coordinates Muslim donations is urgently needed, participants agreed.

Hanson, who converted to Islam in 1977, said Muslim donors should be organized not only to “give fish” but also to “teach poor people how to fish.” He called on nongovernmental organizations and governments to work together, since caring for the poor should not be the government's job, alone.

“People working for NGOs are much more sincere and passionate,” Hanson said.

As the number of charitable organizations increases, corruption invariably shows its ugly head, and this, too, was debated during the meeting.

“Every institution faces this problem, but we have transparency so we can be accountable,” said Peter D. O'Driscoll, executive director of Action Aid.

“One World Trust,” a global accountability project in which governments and NGOs work together, was established for just such a purpose, he said.

Turkey needs an organization that works like the International Monetary Fund to control whether funds collected by aid organizations are distributed fairly or not, Hanson said.

The WCMP and similar outfits are needed to bring Muslim philanthropists together and lead them to help not only Muslims, but also the rest of the world, participants acknowledged. This could change the world's attitude toward Muslims, said Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

After the Sep. 11, 2001 attacks Muslims and many Muslim aid institutions were subject to partial treatment, Awad said.

“We should coordinate with other secular or Christian organizations and governments,” he added. “Otherwise, we will be subject to suspicion and unfair treatment.”

Shahid Malik, United Kingdom Minister for International Development, who also participated in the WCMP, said Muslims have been defined by the actions of a few extremists, but radical Islamists represent neither Muslims nor Islam.

Malik, who became the first British-born Muslim to serve in the British government, said Britain's having a Muslim minister means a lot, as does the country's tradition of championing civil rights and liberties, which makes it the best place in the world for Muslims.

“There are many people against the Iraq war,” Malik said. “We are where we are, and we should now have a stable government in Iraq.”

The killing of Muslims by other Muslims in the name of Islam should be stopped, since it does not represent Islam.

Muslims need middle class

A stable middle class should be established in Muslim countries in order to secure social peace and prosperity, Hamza Yusuf Hanson said.

Compared to other Muslim nations, Turkey's middle class is strong, serving as a firewall to a culture of corruption and bribery.

“I have seen the practice of bribery in some Muslim countries where the middle class is not strong and people are corrupt,” Hanson said.

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New Group Meets to Promote Muslim Charity Worldwide
http://philanthropy.com/news/updates/index.php?id=4203
By Ian Wilhelm

Istanbul

Muslims around the globe contribute billıons of dollars to humanıtarıan causes a year, but their efforts are often poorly organızed and not well-known to the world, said participants at the inaugural meetıng of a group of Islamic charities and philanthropists here.

The new organization, the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists, was formed to help Islamıc donors and nonprofit groups to overcome these obstacles.

It estımates that Muslim foundations award at least $20-billion annually, while one speaker at the two-day conference said that total gıvıng by Muslims worldwide ıs probably 10 times that amount.

“If you look at the Muslim world and the generosity of the 1.3 bıllıon Muslims, I am absolutely certain they give over $200-billion a year to charity collectively,” said Hamza Yusuf, founder of the Zaytuna Institute, an Islamic think tank in Berkeley, Calif.

But “much of that charıty goes unnoted because we do not have the infrastructure to regulate it and to show that charıty gıven on the books,” he told the 200 or so partıcıpants, who came from Libya, Malaysia, Qatar, and 27 other countries.

Part of the challenge to calculating Islamıc philanthropy is the Koran itself.

Islam’s version of tithing, known as zakat, is one of the faith’s five maın holy prıncıples and requires Muslims to purify theır wealth by providing 2.5 percent of theır assets a year to mosques and needy people.

But the Koran says such gifts are more sacred when they are given quietly.

“Philanthropy is not visible among Muslims because we believe in the secrecy of it,” said Ebrahim Rasool, a Muslim South Afrıcan and premier of the country’s Western Cape province. “Muslims give, but they hide ıt.”

Mr. Rassol urged Muslims to promote theır giving and support causes they traditionally have not, such as protectıng the environment and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

In the case of the disease, he said ıt is associated wıth sexual promıscuıty and the gay lıiestyle, which are “anathema to Islam,” but the needs of AIDS victims in sub-Saharan Afrıca are too great to ignore.

The World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists ıs the brainchild of Tariq H. Cheema, a Pakistani doctor who lives in İllinois. After years of nonprofit work, including assistıng vıctıms of the 2005 Pakistan earthquake, Mr. Cheema said he saw the need to bring together the world’s Islamic donors.

“Muslims, who are almost one-fourth of thıs whole globe, had to be more proactive to finding solutions,” he told The Chronicle in an interview. “We share risks with everyone on this planet.”

He said he hopes the congress wıll organize annual events and create a network to research, coordinate, and discuss Muslim gıvıng. The group will most likely be based in America with a second office ın Turkey or other Muslim nation.

As part of its work, the congress plans to create a Web site, SecureGiving, to rank charities in Muslim countries based on an as-yet-undecided criteria of governance and management standards. Mr. Cheema said the effort will help donors make sure their money is not supportıng terrorists posing as Islamic charities, a concern that has grown since the September 11, 2001, attacks.

While Mr. Cheema said he dıd not start the World Congress of Muslim Phılanthropists to improve the image of Islam to the Western world, he and other participants said raising the profıle of Muslim humanitarians could indırectly change the negative perceptıon by some that the religion ıs a vıolent one.

By giving food, buildıng schools, and undertaking other charıtable work, said Mr. Rasool of South Afrıca, Muslims can show that theır religion ıs not a “backward, ıntolerant monolith.”

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Congressman Keith Ellison
“Do good works, engage politically, and get involved”
http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/a/2694/

Associate Editor Wajahat Ali sits down for a rare interview with US Congressman Keith Ellison, who speaks about the challenges and opportunities of being the first Muslim elected to Congress.


By Wajahat Ali, March 24, 2008



"I urge all Muslims to engage"

Keith Ellison, member of the U.S. House of Representatives, is the first African American ever elected to the House from Minnesota. Oh, he’s also the first Muslim Congressman in US history [the second Muslim American, Andre Carson, was recently elected to Congress on March 11]. By virtue of his racial and religious identity - a minority within a minority - Ellison bears the unenviable burden of representing one of the most misunderstood, feared and mistrusted identities du jour: Muslims. Ever since his election, notoriety chases Ellison often and unsubtly, most memorably after his 2006 appearance on Conservative commentator Glenn Beck’s CNN show, where the host asked Ellison point blank, “Prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.” With calm and patience, Ellison answered the question head on and reassured his constituents and the American public that his religious values do not compromise or lessen his patriotism.

Regardless, his critics, including those in Muslim and right-wing circles, continue to project their doubts about not only his political credibility, but also his loyalty to both Muslims and America, respectively. Despite the controversy, in the past two years Ellison has emerged an influential and popular figure winning over a vastly diverse constituency in Minnesota and even gaining supporters and silencing initial skeptics across the nation.

We sat down for a rare and exclusive conversation with the Congressman, where he bluntly addresses a gamut of issues including the charges of his critics, Obama’s candidacy, racism in America, Muslims entering politics, the fear of Islam, the smear campaigns, and how his faith helps him become a better American and Congressman.

We’re all hearing and seeing the speech by Obama’s pastor, Rev. Wright, and the response by Senator Obama. Some say Obama’s “race” speech is historic, others say he is ducking the race issue. What do you think Obama’s response, as well as the fierce criticism of Wright’s speech, says about the state of racism in America today?

ELLISON: I think Obama’s speech was a transcendent speech. It actually moved us forward in the dialogue for national reconciliation. The fact is that Rev. Wright is coming from a perspective of over 200 years of slavery and 100 hundred years of Jim Crow. Also, he’s been a witness to some of the awful devastation that has happened to the South side of Chicago where his church is located. He has seen the awful human toll and how it affects the African American community. That’s the perspective he’s coming from. That perspective is obviously going to be informed by frustration and anger, and obviously he is a leader in that community and his speeches and sermons are going to reflect that frustration and anger. But, as a Presidential candidate, I think Obama is bringing us all together: helping us transcend; helping us go further.

The truth is the racial dialogue in America does need some updating. It does need a new way forward. Because so often, we are locked in a cycle of blame and shame; we are locked in a cycle of, you know, just really not getting anywhere. But, the fact is this dialogue does get us somewhere. It is not informed by anger, it is not informed by past wrongs or anything like that. But, it is informed by facts as they exist and it is informed by a need to heal and pull us forward. So, I was really impressed by Obama’s speech. I think it will go down in history.

Let’s talk about Geraldine Ferraro and other individuals who commented that Obama’s meteoric rise is due to his campaign playing the “race card” for his benefit. What’s your thought on this "race card” being used to help Obama – is this simple, superficial political correctness?

Well, it’s been used against him. In fact, his Democratic opponent has been trying to narrow his reach and appeal based on racial grounds from the beginning in my opinion. But, it just doesn’t work because he is truly a candidate that reaches out to all segments of the community. It just doesn’t work, because he truly is somebody who has the best interests and common good of all in mind. He doesn’t play old-line politics. That’s why you see him able to reach out to literally thousands of people. When he was in Minneapolis he drew 22,000 people in the Timberwolves auditorium. And the Timberwolves would’ve loved to get the numbers Obama drew on that day! He is pulling people who are senior citizens, kids, college students, and people who are middle aged, working adults. He’s pulling on Blacks, Whites, Latinos, people from Asia, South Asian background: everybody. He truly is a transcendent candidate. Now, he’s not a perfect candidate. Obviously, no one is. But, Obama is one candidate who I’ve seen that is able to reach across those issues that divide us and pull everybody in. I just think he’s phenomenal.

The fact is – before he gave that speech – I didn’t know. I was wondering if he was going to be able to deal with this challenge. It did look like the folks who were beating up his pastor were gaining ground – you know, causing doubt. But, you know what, he rose to the occasion as he has many times before.

Let’s tackle a question that has dogged you and Obama: The Muslim question. Many people say the label “Muslim” is used as a smear tactic, a "scarlet letter" of the 21st century. Do you think the fact that many people look at Obama as a Muslim, and thus judge him detrimentally, is a reflection of “politicking” in America or is it really reflective of an overall prejudice towards Muslims in America?

Well, the fact is that the people who are attacking Obama because of their incorrect belief he was Muslim were assuming that the American population is religiously bigoted, and they were trying to get political gain by appealing to that religious bigotry. But, it so happens Americans come from a long tradition of religious pluralism. We elected a Catholic President in the 1960’s. Mitt Romney’s meteoric descent is not due to his religion; it is due to his failed candidacy. In the 109th Congress, which was the one before the one I was in, there were no Muslims ever, ever before. In the 110th Congress, you’ve got two. Two. [Andre Carson won the Democratic nomination for Indiana's 7th congressional district recently.] I’m not the only one anymore. So, the fact is that America is a very tolerant country, and if you make an argument for the common good then people will support it. The funny thing about this latest flack about his Christian Minister is that it makes it pretty clear that he isn’t Muslim. (Laughs.) If anything, it can dispel that ridiculous rumor.

One thing I will say for Obama is that there was a temptation for him to strenuously and vociferously disassociate himself from being a Muslim, and he didn’t do that. He just said nope, in fact I’m not a Muslim, but there is nothing wrong with being a Muslim. I actually liked the way he handled that. I think what they were trying to do was to falsely identify him as a Muslim which they thought would hurt him. Or, they were trying to get him to vehemently deny and therefore alienate millions of Muslims in America and put him in a “can’t win” situation, but I think he’s gotten out of that one pretty well.

Let’s talk about your own personal experiences. Some are very infamous like your moment with CNN’s Glenn Beck who had you on air and pretty much straight up questioned your patriotism and loyalty to America based on his assumption or fear regarding your Islam. So, how do you confront that daily reality where you, Keith Ellison an African American and Muslim, are seen as unpatriotic based purely due to your religious beliefs? This must get frustrating.

Well, the thing is you have to face these kinds of challenges with patience. Quite frankly, the barrage of taking hits everyday has made me a better Muslim. I find myself returning to my faith just to be able to deal with this kind of stuff on a regular basis. The Qur'an says, “The struggle is ordained.” Well, certainly it is. But, we have to deal with these challenges with patience, with confidence. We cannot let one person’s bitterness turn us bitter. We have to overcome evil with good, right? That’s how you do it. You can’t overcome evil with evil. You just get more evil. My thing is to try to urge people who are Muslim and not Muslim to understand America is a country that has deep roots of tolerance and religious inclusion. My message to the Muslim community is keep on doing good works like building clinics, building literacy sessions at the masjid, work with non-Muslim fellow Americans to try to improve things. And keep putting your best foot forward, because if we start going tit-for-tat with those putting out religious bigotry, then we end up just like them.

Lot of people are saying that Andre Carson’s election to Congress along with yours is a sign of the end of times: "The Muslims are taking over! The Muslims are taking over!"

(Laughs.) Two out of 435? I don’t think we’re taking over.

So, how do you respond to that fear that, look in two years, Muslims and immigrants are helping elect Muslim people, ethnic people, and soon enough Congress will be run by radicals?

(Laughs) You know, we are elected by the majority of the people. So, if we are seeing more people of Muslim background in Congress and more people from diverse backgrounds in Congress, and we of course have a woman speaker in the House. That just means that Congress is looking more and more like America. It’s looking more and more like the rest of the country. That’s what democracy is, isn’t it?

Why the Democratic Party? Suppose you’re talking to Muslims – and you know they voted for the first time in a block for Bush in 2000; Muslims are not too savvy but we are getting there. How do you convince the Muslims that the Democratic Party is for them and for America?

Well, the first thing I want to say is that civic engagement is something I urge all Muslims to engage in. One of my most effective fundraisers in the state of Michigan, a brother by the name of Asad Malik, is a Republican and a dear friend of mind. He and are I are tight and good friends. My brother is a Republican, my dad is a Republican. So, I don’t want to urge the Muslim community to get locked into a political party even if it is my party. What I’d urge them to do is do good works, promote fair dealing in business, help America overcome this tremendous number of people who are uninsured and don’t have any health care insurance. I think in this time, 2008 to well into possibly 2012 and 2016, the Democratic Party offers the best opportunity to express their commitment to civil and human rights for all people. To express their commitment for health care for all, to express their commitment to economic justice for everybody, and to express their commitment for peace around the world. Republicans will probably figure this out in 5 or 6 years that embracing bigotry and promoting fear is not a good thing. I think they’ll probably figure out they will need to change their positions to attract votes. And, they’ll be offering something worthwhile as well.

But, two points. I urge the Muslim community not to get locked into one political party. And two: do good works, engage politically, and get involved: can’t change anything sitting on the sidelines. The last thing is that, for now, the Democratic Party is the best vehicle to give out good values; values of peace, values of economic equity, values of family, values of civil rights. Today, the Democratic Party is the best vehicle for that.

Some of your critics in the Muslim community say that Ellison is a charismatic self-promoter. He’s a sell out. He promotes abortion rights and gay marriage. So, how can he also be Muslim and be liberal and promote a system that engages in a post 9-11 Iraq War and pro-Israeli polices?

My position for people who say that is if you don’t like my position, then you get involved and offer an alternative vision for the country. I believe it is shirk; it is religiously forbidden for one Muslim to tell another Muslim he is not Muslim. Because you don’t know my heart. You don’t know what Allah has inspired me to understand. Just because you disagree with my political position, I believe it is shirk for you to tell me I’m not Muslim because you disagree. Why don’t you just disagree? Offer your position. Convince the people that you are the one who’s right. Maybe convince me that you’re the one who is right? But, I do disagree with those Muslims who try to determine for themselves who is Muslim and who is not: that’s for Allah to decide. I’m a strong opponent of this takfir-ism [declaring another an unbeliever], you know, people who think it’s ok for them to decide who is Muslim and who is not: that’s only for Allah to decide.

On the other part, I am a person who believes in civil and human rights are for all people. I’ve never been ashamed to admit that I think America needs to have human and civil rights for all people, particularly unpopular groups. Unpopular groups like the Muslim community, unpopular groups like Latino immigrants. Unpopular groups like the gay community. How in the world can I argue that America has to have rights for Muslims, who are unpopular, but not gays? That is a hypocritical position! I’m not asking people to embrace homosexuality. I’m saying it’s wrong and immoral to kill them, beat them, or exclude them from working. You don’t have to like them. Leave ‘em alone. Let them live their lives and let God decide if He will judge them, as He will judge us all. That’s all I’m saying.

Also, I said in terms of abortion, of course I’m not in favor of abortion. But, the question is: do I want to have police arresting women who do? The answer to that is no. I think we all have to come together as a society to prevent abortion. We need to all promote sex education, we need to promote more knowledge about the human body, we need to promote pre-natal care so women don’t feel they need to get an abortion because they fear they won’t be able to feed their other children. This is what we need to do as a society to make abortion exceedingly rare, but also, we don’t want women using coat hangers and killing themselves to abort the pregnancy. We certainly don’t want to use our police force to make arrests on these women. The question is not whether abortion is bad: I think it is bad. And let me be clear: I think abortion is wrong. But, I will also tell you I’m not ready to criminalize it, because I think it is a personal decision that people should make for themselves, but we should promote a society in which people wouldn’t have to make that choice

It sounds like you’re very passionate, Congressman. There’s a saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his Companions recommending one to not try to seek leadership or positions of power. Usually, people running for Congress or the Presidency have to run on the ticket of convincing people to vote for them. So, what inspired you to run, to take this leap, to be a trailblazer knowing you’re a Black man and a Muslim running for Congress?

Well, you know, part of my involvement in politics is really rooted in my desire to try to promote unity among people, trying to promote unity with the Earth and creation, and trying to promote justice. That’s really the origin of my activism. We are also, as Muslims, urged to engage in shura, consultation, with what the community should do. So, I think my involvement is just to sort of try to help them do what’s best for the community and the world at large.

I do agree that ambitious pursuits of power acquisition are wrong. But, I’m not trying to accumulate power for my own sake. I’m not trying to accumulate power for my own sake. I’m trying to accumulate some power to improve the lot of all people and improve the common good. So, that’s the origin of my activism. You know, I have a family that was involved in the Civil Rights Movement. My grandfather was organizing Black voters in the 1950’s in rural Louisiana in a time that would seriously get you hung and it was dangerous to do it. My mother promoted that as well. It’s something I’ve always been associated with, and it’s a kind of thing I’ll continue to do and urge more people to do. So, that’s kind of where I’m coming from.

Can you talk about the spiritual and emotional transition of Keith Hakim [Ellison wrote columns in his law school paper as Keith Hakim in 1990] to modern day Keith Ellison?

The thing is the Muslim name my friends and community know me by is Keith Muhammad. And that name is still my name. It’s still what I go by; it’s still what my brothers call me. But, the thing is, from what’s on my personal birth certificate, what I’m admitted to Bar in because I’m a lawyer – the legal name is Ellison. So, I run by the name that is on my birth certificate. But, the truth is I do have a Muslim name, and I am known by my Muslim name by many of my fellow Muslims. So, there’s really no transition.

But, let me also say that it’s important to point out there are lot of people around the world who are Muslim who do not have names that are Arabic in nature. It’s not unusual at all. It’s nothing in the Quran, the Sunnah, or the hadith of Prophet Muhammad that says that if your name is a legitimate name, if it is not a bad name, if it isn’t a name promoting something wicked or evil that you have to change it. I think the essence of Islam is not about a name or a form, or anything. It’s about going beyond forms and going beyond names and getting to the essence of the fundamental and Divine unity that connects Allah with all of us – and that Allah “is.” So, it’s really not about a name. It’s really about what you do, how you behave, how you treat people, how you face adversity, and how you connect with the Divine.

You’ve traveled the world and you’ve been all over America. What’s the greatest misconception and question about Islam directed towards you? And, how do you respond in either defending your faith or affirming your faith?

The greatest misconception of Islam is that it is a religion of violence. That’s a very incorrect position, and I have to constantly help people understand that even though you have Muslims who may do things that are violent, it does not make Islam a violent religion. I have to tell people that Christianity and Judaism have many, many examples of people committing atrocious acts in the name of their religion but we should not judge the religion by those individuals. I have to point out on so many occasions Prophet Muhammad was attacked, abused, mistreated, and yet, he always responded with patience, often with non-violence. And when he did have to resort to warfare it was strictly defensive and designed to preserve and protect life. Whenever he could try to work it out, he always did. So, I don’t understand what some of our Muslim brothers today are thinking. Who did Muhammad ever bomb? What suicide mission did he ever order? There are no records of these things. So, that’s a misconception that I continually have to clear up.

Everyone is interested in the “conversion story.” What is it about Islam that inspired you to take that figurative and literal “leap” of faith?

It was really a lot about going to the masjid and seeing the Blacks, the Whites, the Latinos, the Asians, the Arabs all together – all one. The unity among the people connected in an effort to walk as one and be in harmony with God’s will. It was this unity I thought was so important. It was rational. It made sense to me. It has done a tremendous amount to help me negotiate life – quite frankly.

Do you think we’ll ever see a Muslim President of the United States of America?

Inshallah [God willing]

If a Muslim becomes President, do you think he or she can ever truly make peace with their Islamic values and the burden of the duties required by the position?

Let me just say this. Let me say this: there’s not one single Muslim on the planet today that has walked perfectly. All of us need to do better. So, if there is a Muslim president I’m sure that individual will be forced to make compromises but, hopefully God-willing, they will continue to return to their faith and do what the faith requires and do what is expected by Allah. Do I believe that somebody will face fundamental challenges? I mean, we’re talking about human beings here! Remember, Muslims aren’t perfect. There’s a big difference between Islam and Muslims.

Will you ever run for President?

I have no desire to be President. When people say, “Hey, Keith, you’re gonna’ be President!” I’m like, “Hey man! I thought you liked me? I thought we were friends?” (Laughs). I do not aspire for the Presidency. You know what I want to be? I want to be the best Congressman I can possibly be. I want to be effective. I want to encourage people to run for office. I want to get people to come together around a common humanity, and I want them to stop focusing on false divisions. That’s what I want to do.

Wajahat Ali is Pakistani Muslim American who is neither a terrorist nor a saint. He is a playwright, essayist, humorist, and recent J.D. whose work, "The Domestic Crusaders," is the first major play about Muslim Pakistani Americans living in a post 9-11 America. His blog is at goatmilk.wordpress.com. He can be reached at wajahatmali@gmail.com.

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